Folding shoe rack



Dec. 31 1963 Filed May 51, 1962 A. SLOAN 3, 50"

FOLDING SHOE RACK 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

INVENTOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1962 FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

Dec. 31, 1963 A. SLOAN FOLDING SHOE RACK Filed May 31. 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,IO ,m g 7 FIG. 4

FIG. 5

lN VENTOR. flhafim 6501244,

Afm

United States Patent 3,115,850 FDLDING SHUE RACK Abraham Sloan, 28 Warren Sh, Lynn, Mass. Filed May 31, 1962, Ser. No. 198,736 6 Claims. (fiCl. 108-111) This invention comprises a new and improved rack for use in the manufacture of shoes where it is desired to move cases of partially finished shoes in the factory from one station or machine to another.

The rack of my invention is of light weight, sturdy in construction and readily movable. It has moreover the added advantages of being collapsible so that it occupies little space when not in use and it is also constructed and arranged so that two or more racks may be assembled in nested relation when collapsed thus economizing valuable floor space in the factory.

These desirable results are achieved by constructing the framework of the rack of tubular material, by pivotally mounting its shelves on a single pair of upright members and by a novel base construction. As herein shown the base comprises a transverse bar having at both ends feet of inverted U-shape which diverge outwardly from the transverse bar and are separated at their outer ends by a space sufficient to receive the base of a similar rack in nested relation.

Another feature of the invention consists in providing transverse tie bars or rods between the uprights of the frame in position to support the shelves as a series in horizontal position when the rack is to be used. Means are also provided for connecting the shelves so that they may be moved simultaneously to and from collapsed position.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which- FIG. 1 is a view of the rack in front elevation,

FIG. 2 is a corresponding view in side elevation,

FIG. 3 is a view of the rack in side elevation and in collapsed condition shown in nested relation with two other racks,

FIG. 4 is a top view of the rack, and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view indicating the nested relation of three racks.

As herein shown the base of the rack includes a horizontal tie bar 19 permanently secured at each end to a foot 11 of inverted U-shape. The feet 11 are of tubular construction having one leg carrying a caster 12 and to the other rack is permanently secured a tubular upright 13. The lower end 14- of the upright is bent to conform in contour to the leg of the foot 11 and is provided with a swiveled caster 15. The feet 11 are secured to the tie bar It) in divergent relation as best shown in FIG. 5. The tie bar connects the feet 11 at their ends which are closest together and the arrangement is such that the outer ends of the feet 11 are separated by a space sufiicient to receive between them the feet of a similar rack.

The frame of the rack also includes a lower tie bar 16 which is of tubular construction and connects the two uprights 13 at a short distance above the feet 11. An upper tie bar 17 of similar construction connects the uprights 12 adjacent to their upper ends. The tie bars 16 and 17 not only stiffen and strengthen the frame of the rack but are so located as to support its shelves in their operative position.

The rack includes a series of rectangular shelves 18 each connected at its ends by pivots 19 to the uprights 13. The individual shelves 18 have angle iron frame and a sheet metal body of foraminous or woven texture. The pivot pins of the upper and lower shelves 18 are so located 3,115,850 Patented Dec. 31, 1963 "ice with respect to the tie bars 16 and 17 that they are supported in horizontal position by these bars as shown in FIG. 2.

The shelves 18 are pivotally connected at one end toan elongated link 20 by which they are caused to move simultaneously and as a series from operative to col-lapsed position as shown in FIG. 3. A forked latch bar 21 is shown as pivoted to the second shelf at its point of connection with the link 20. The forked end of this latch is arranged to engage the pivot pin of the lowermost shelf and thus to supply a rigid angular brace for the shelves in their horizontal position. A latch 22 is pivoted to one of the uprights 13 at its point of connection with the second shelf and this latch is designed to engage the pivot of the third shelf at its point of connection with the link 20 to hold the shelves in their collapsed position as shown in FIG. 3. It will be apparent from this figure that the nested relation of the racks is permitted by the capacity of the shelves 18 to assume readily their collapsed position.

It will be apparent that in the base of the rack the casters 12 and 15 are located on opposite sides of the uprights 13, or the projection of the uprights, so that stable support is furnished to the rack as a whole and the uprights rise Within the general floor plan of the rack.

The rack of my invention has been referred to as useful for moving cases of partially finished shoes about the shoe factory and it will be understood that the shelves may be modified to accommodate bare lasts, or uppers, soles, findings or shoes in any state of manufacture, even completed shoes ready to be conveyed to the packing room.

While tubular construction is to be preferred on ac count of its light weight it will be understood that whereever desired elements of angle cross section or formed sheet stock may be substituted within the scope of the invention.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail an illustrative embodiment hereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A shoe rack comprising:

(1) a base including a tubular horizontally disposed bar having outwardly divergent feet extending from its opposite ends,

(2) a tubular upright rising from an outer portion of each foot,

(3) a series of shelves pivotally mounted in spaced relation upon said uprights,

(4) a cross rod between the uprights beneath certain of the shelves,

(5) a vertical rod pivotally connected to each shelf for maintaining the shelves always in parallel relation, an

(6) a latch for locking the shelves of said series in horizontal position.

2. A shoe rack as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the divergent feet are of inverted U-shape and that the said tubular base bar connects the ends of the feet which are located closest together.

3. A shoe rack as described in claim 1, further characterized in that said tubular uprights are secured to the outer side of the respective feet of the rack and are rearwardly curved to rise vertically at points within the floor plan of the rack as a whole.

4. folding shoe rack having spaced tubular shelfcarrying uprights and a tubular foot connected :to each upright and to each other, said feet being divergent and spaced at their outer ends sufficiently to enclose in nested relation the inner ends of divergent feet of identical shape and arrangement.

5 A lightweight, collapsible shoe rack comprising similar feet of inverted U-shape arranged in divergent relation and positively connected between their ends which are closest together, tubular uprights rising from the outer References Cited i the file of this patent ends of the divergent feet, shelves pivotally rnounterl loe- UNITED STATES PATENTS tween said uprights, and transverse bars form-mg positive r O connections between the uprights and being located to 1981454 French 1807 engage and hold shelves in horizontal position. 5 638,4 3 Canedy Dec. 5, 1899 6. A light-Weight collapsible shoe rack comprising a 1,304,847 Blais et al May 27, 1919 transverse base bar, a tubular foot of inverted U-shape 1,647,723 Casali Nov. 1, 1927 connected to each end of said bar and having one leg pro- 1 93 073 Spang jam 1 193 5 vided With a caster, and a tubular shelf-carrying upright 2,720,402 De Puy at aL Oct 11, 1955 connected to the other leg of each foot and being provided 10 with a caster cooperating with the caster first mentioned in supporting the rack for movement on the factory floor. 

1. A SHOE RACK COMPRISING: (1) A BASE INCLUDING A TUBULAR HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED BAR HAVING OUTWARDLY DIVERGENT FEET EXTENDING FROM ITS OPPOSITE ENDS, (2) A TUBULAR UPRIGHT RISING FROM AN OUTER PORTION OF EACH FOOT, (3) A SERIES OF SHELVES PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SPACED RELATION UPON SAID UPRIGHTS, (4) A CROSS ROD BETWEEN THE UPRIGHTS BENEATH CERTAIN OF THE SHELVES, (5) A VERTICAL ROD PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO EACH SHELF FOR MAINTAINING THE SHELVES ALWAYS IN PARALLEL RELATION, AND (6) A LATCH FOR LOCKING THE SHELVES OF SAID SERIES IN HORIZONTAL POSITION. 